SNAP Notes

Dear Friends,

It’s been a dizzying month politically. Students for a New American Politics was thrilled to see our endorsed candidates Mary Jo Kilroy, Tom Perriello, Jim Himes and Jeanne Shaheen be sworn into Congress. We’re still glowing from the inauguration, waiting with baited breath for SNAP candidate Al Franken to officially become Senator Franken, and watching as governors select senators in Delaware, Colorado, New York and Illinois.

And in the middle of all this, SNAP is still working to shape the new Congress. With Rahm Emanuel now the Chief of Staff to President Obama—two words still delightful to write—his Congressional seat is open and a special election has been called to fill it. The Democratic primary will be held on March 3rd.

In this first election of the Obama era, SNAP is proud to endorse Tom Geoghegan for Congress in Illinois’ fifth district.

Tom Geoghegan would bring a unique and fresh perspective to Washington. A Harvard Law graduate, Tom has spent the past thirty years in Chicago working as a labor lawyer, representing the Teamsters for a Democratic Union most prominently. Whether fighting for steelworkers who were cheated out of their pensions, low-income women trying to bring a class-action suit against predatory lenders or Illinois residents shut out of absentee voting, Tom has always practiced in the public interest. At the same time, he has written extensively for The New Republic and The American Prospect and his book Which Side Are You On? was a National Book Critics Circle finalist in 1991. This combination of a fighting spirit with intellectual rigor and curiosity provides Tom with a creativity to match his politics.

Tom is a bold progressive. In the context of our economic crisis, Tom is articulating a vision of a new government commitment to the economic security of every American – a new pension system, real health care reform, smart and stringent regulation of the financial sector and changes to our labor law regime. His voice sounds completely different from all those in Washington and there can be no doubt that even as a freshman representative, he would be a national leader. For more information on Tom, read endorsements by James Fallows, Hendrik Hertzberg, Katha Pollitt, or Michael Tomasky.

Our endorsement of Tom marks the first time SNAP has endorsed in a primary. As we enter a period of at least two years of Democratic government, SNAP feels that creating progressive change will require us to support progressive leaders at all stages of the electoral process. Where we can help build a better Congress in the general election, we will be there. When we can add progressive heroes like Tom to Congress by entering a primary, we will be there too.

It should be noted that in this wide-open special election, we were thrilled to talk to multiple progressive campaigns. Both John Fritchey and Sara Feigenholtz, in particular, should be commended for their leadership in the state house in Springfield on the issues we care about. That said, it is rare to have an opportunity to elect a man like Tom Geoghegan to Congress. The Illinois Fifth and the House of Representatives would be lucky to have him.

In response to SNAP’s endorsement, Tom stated that “These extraordinary times require a bold new way of thinking in Congress. Let’s stop the bank bailout.  Let’s get working people out of debt. Let’s get students out of debt – even by canceling a good portion of that debt now.  That should be the focus of an economic recovery program. I’m honored to receive the support of Students for a New American Politics, and I look forward to working with them throughout the course of this campaign.”

For more information about Tom’s candidacy, visit his website: http://www.tom09.com

We need your help to ensure that Tom makes it to Washington. The special election is just a month away. Due to a crowded field and what will likely be low turnout, the work of an additional SNAP fellow could be the difference. Please contribute today to help us get SNAP fellows on the ground immediately.

Send a strong ally to President Obama. Send a strong leader to Congress. And send a strong message to the nation that change is only just beginning.

Thank you for your continuing support!

Sincerely,
Hugh Baran and Margaret Sharp
Executive Directors, Students for a New American Politics PAC

http://www.snappac.org/contribute

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, February 2, 2009
Contact: Hugh Baran
Executive Director, Students for a New American Politics PAC
201-218-4409, hugh.baran@snappac.org

SNAP PAC Endorses Tom Geoghegan for Congress

In this first election of the Obama era, Students for a New American Politics PAC (SNAP PAC) is proud to endorse Tom Geoghegan for Congress in Illinois’ fifth district.

Tom Geoghegan will bring a unique and fresh perspective to Washington. A Harvard Law graduate, Tom has spent the past thirty years in Chicago working as a labor lawyer, representing the Teamsters for a Democratic Union most prominently. Whether fighting for steelworkers who were cheated out of their pensions, low-income women trying to bring a class-action suit against predatory lenders or Illinois residents shut out of absentee voting, Tom has always practiced in the public interest. At the same time, he has written extensively for The New Republic and The American Prospect and his book Which Side Are You On? was a National Book Critics Circle finalist in 1991. This combination of a fighting spirit with intellectual rigor and curiosity provides Tom with a creativity to match his politics.

Tom is a bold progressive. In the context of our economic crisis, Tom is articulating a vision of a new government commitment to the economic security of every American – a new pension system, real health care reform, smart and stringent regulation of the financial sector and changes to our labor law regime. His voice sounds completely different from all those in Washington and there can be no doubt that even as a freshman representative, he would be a national leader. For more information on Tom, read endorsements by James Fallows, Hendrik Hertzberg, Katha Pollitt, or Michael Tomasky.

Our endorsement of Tom marks the first time SNAP has endorsed in a primary. As we enter a period of at least two years of Democratic government, SNAP feels that creating progressive change will require us to support progressive leaders at all stages of the electoral process. Where we can help build a better Congress in the general election, we will be there. When we can add progressive heroes like Tom to Congress by entering a primary, we will be there too.

It should be noted that in this wide-open special election, we were thrilled to talk to multiple progressive campaigns. Both John Fritchey and Sara Feigenholtz, in particular, should be commended for their leadership in the state house in Springfield on the issues we care about. That said, it is rare to have an opportunity to elect a man like Tom Geoghegan to Congress. The Illinois Fifth and the House of Representatives would be lucky to have him.

SNAP PAC is the Students for a New American Politics political action committee, a federal PAC. We are working to provide stipends for as many students as possible to work as full time grassroots organizers on progressive congressional campaigns. In doing so, we hope to expand and diversify America’s progressive movement by helping to elect the new progressive leaders of today and by training those of tomorrow. Since our founding in 2005, we have sent 40 students to work on 20 Congressional campaigns and helped elect Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Al Franken, Ben Cardin, Bernie Sanders, Sheldon Whitehouse and Sherrod Brown and Reps. Tom Perriello, Mary Jo Kilroy, Jim Himes, Chris Murphy, Joe Courtney, Julia Carson, Nick Lampson, and Paul Hodes.

In response to SNAP’s endorsement, Tom stated that “These extraordinary times require a bold new way of thinking in Congress. Let’s stop the bank bailout.  Let’s get working people out of debt. Let’s get students out of debt – even by cancelling a good portion of that debt now.  That should be the focus of an economic recovery program. I’m honored to receive the support of Students for a New American Politics, and I look forward to working with them throughout the course of this campaign.”

For further information, please visit our website at www.snappac.org or contact our Executive Director Hugh Baran at hugh.baran@snappac.org or 201-218-4409.